DUCKS L7: Wildlife Population Ecology

Abiotic Factors

non-living, physical and chemical elements which can influence wildlife populations

Abundance

population size or number or density of individuals in a given area

Age Structure

age distribution of individuals in a population

Biotic Factors

living or once-living organisms within a habitat which have an influence on wildlife populations

Birth Rate

number of new individuals produced in the population over a period of time

Competition

reaction of two or more animals seeking the same resource at the same time

Death Rate

number of individuals in a population which expire over a period of time; also known as mortality rate

Density

number of individual animals per unit area

Density Dependent Factors

factors which vary depending on the population numbers and influence the regulation of population size

Density Independent Factors

physical and environmental factors which vary and act independently of population numbers

Dispersion

location or distribution of animals within a space

Dominance

individual achieves preferential access to resources over other individuals

Emigration Rate

number of individuals which migrate out of a population over a period of time

Fecundity

potential for reproduction of an organism or population

Immigration Rate

number of individuals entering one population from another over a period of time

Limiting Factor

restricts the size of a population from reaching its full potential

Parasitism

parasite feeds off of a host organism

Physical Condition

ability an organism has to survive in a particular environment; health of an animal

Population Dynamics

changes in a population's abundance and range over a period of time

Population Density

the number of individuals divided by the area they reside in

Population Ecology

measurement and study of population dynamics

Predation

relationship between predator and prey

Predator

animal hunting and killing other animals for food

Prey

animal who is being hunted or killed for food

Production

number of offspring produced during a period of time

Recruitment

number of organisms surviving long enough to be added to a population

Sex Structure

proportion of the population which is male versus female

Wildlife Populations

individuals of one species living and interacting together as a group